How the Latest News section works
If your WordPress site has a Latest News section it is automatically generated from WordPress Posts. Any new post that is published and assigned to the News category will appear in this section without needing to edit the Latest News homepage itself.
The layout, including the card thumbnail image and the large hero image at the top of the post, is controlled by the site’s design. These images are pulled from the post’s Featured Image.
How to add a new News post
1. Log in to WordPress
- Go to your website’s WordPress admin area.
- Log in using your username and password.
2. Add a new Post
- In the left‑hand menu, select Posts.
- Click Add New.
3. Add the post title and content
- Enter the title of your news item at the top of the page.
- Add your text, images, links or other content into the main content area using blocks.
Best practice:
- Keep titles concise and clear.
- Use headings to break up longer news items for readability.
4. Set the Featured Image (important)
The Featured Image is used in two places:
- As the thumbnail image in the Latest News listing.
- As the hero image at the top of the news article.
To add it:
- Open the Settings panel on the right‑hand side (click the cog icon if it is hidden).
- Make sure the Post tab is selected.
- Find Featured Image and click Set featured image.
- Upload a new image or select one from the Media Library.
- Click Set featured image to confirm.
Best practice:
- Use a high‑quality, landscape‑oriented image.
- Avoid images with text near the edges, as they may be cropped at different screen sizes.
5. Assign the News category
- In the Post settings panel, find Categories.
- Tick the News category.
This step is essential. If the News category is not selected, the post will not appear in the Latest News section.
6. Add an excerpt (if available)
- If the Excerpt field is available in your settings, add a short summary of the news item.
- This may be used in listings or previews.
Tip:
- Write one or two sentences that clearly summarise the announcement.
7. Review and publish
- Preview the post using Preview to check formatting and images.
- When ready, click Publish.
- Confirm if prompted.
Once published, the post will automatically appear in the Latest News section and link through to the full article.